Competition for the last of the 15 sports on the programme for the 2^nd European Games Minsk 2019 gets under way today, with the best karateka from around the continent going toe to toe at Chizhovka Arena.

Several European title-holders and defending European Games champions are among 96 karateka from 38 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) contesting 12 sets of medals in Minsk. Qualification points for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games are also up for grabs.

In the men’s kata, Damian Hugo Quintero Capdevila (ESP), the 2015 European Games champion and current European champion, is the one to beat.

Spain will also hope for a gold medal in the women’s tournament through Sandra Sanchez Jaime, who won in Baku four years ago and has been the dominant force in the category in recent years. Her strongest challenge is likely to come from Viviana Bottaro (ITA), the No.2 seed.

The karate competition at Minsk 2019 takes place on 29 and 30 June. There are men’s and women’s tournaments in the kata, and across five weight classes in the kumite. Each tournament features eight competitors. Competition starts at 09:00 each day with elimination rounds.